Published: October 08, 2009 07:25 am      

Salmon runs near peak in the west

Salmon runs on the western side of the state are at or near peak conditions, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.

The DNR also said anglers looking for the number of fish passed at the weirs can call the Little Manistee Weir at (231) 775-9727 x6072 and the Platte River Weirs at (231) 775-9727 x6073. The message is changed only when the DNR handles fish.

Boardman River: The salmon run here is near peak. Try fresh eggs or yarn under a bobber and fish the deeper holes.

Elk River: Salmon fishing continues to pick up. Try spawn bags, yarn or body baits.

Petoskey: Anglers are showing up in good numbers but fishing was generally slow. There are fish in the big lake but the number seems to be dwindling. A few fish were caught on spawn.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers still are taking a few fish, but not many. Pier anglers are catching the occasional steelhead on spawn or smallmouth bass on crawlers.

Lake Charlevoix: A few perch were caught on minnows.

Lake Bellaire: Smallmouth bass action was slow. A few pike were caught on stick baits, tube baits or artificial worms. A few perch were caught on crawlers near the mouth of the Intermediate River but the fish were small. No muskie to report.

Platte River: The river continues to provide good salmon action.

Frankfort: Windy weather has hampered fishing, but those able to get out on the better days have caught young chinook and steelhead in 80 to 150 feet of water when fishing along the Shelf.

Betsie River: Rain continues to push fish into the river. Anglers have caught salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Most are fishing between the US-31 Bridge and the Homestead Dam.

Portage Lake: Catch rates for walleye and panfish were slow.

Manistee: Light numbers of salmon and steelhead have been caught in waters 50 to 150 feet deep but the better steelhead action was out in waters 300 to 400 feet deep.

Manistee River: Salmon fishing is in full swing with fish spawning on the gravel.

Cheboygan River: Fish have been caught from the mouth all the way up to the Cheboygan Dam.

Mullett Lake: Anglers this past week were getting perch on the north end of the lake when using minnows.